Floral basket and anchoring means for funeral use



G. WILKINS 2,774,186

KEIT AND ANCHORING MEANS FOR FUNERAL USE Dec. 18, 1956 FLORAL BAS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1954 INVENTOR.

1956 s. L. WILKINS 2,774,186

FLORAL BASKET AND ANCHORING MEANS FOR FUNERAL USE Filed June 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 George L. Wilkins INVENTOR.

United States Patent FLORAL BASKET AND AN CHORING MEANS FOR FUNERAL USE George L. Wilkins, Cape Charles, Va.

Application June 8, 1954, Serial No. 435,220

2 Claims. (Cl. 47-41) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a floral basket and anchoring means for funeral use and more specifically pertains to an improved construction of floral basket which will permit the latter to be placed in normal manner upon fiat, horizontal surfaces or will selectively enable the same to be anchored in an unobtrusive but secure manner upon inclined surfaces.

Floral baskets for funeral purposes, in order to be acceptable for such use, must satisfactorily conform to and meet certain requirements which are peculiar to this field of use. Thus, on the occasions when such baskets are utilized, it is an indispensable requisite that they shall possess a grace and dignity of appearance which is not marred by an obtrusive appearance of attachments or gadgets. In addition, it is extremely important that a single basket shall be provided wherein the funeral flowers may remain in the same basket without change when displayed on flat, level or horizontal surfaces as by the casket in the home or in the undertaking parlor; and yet, which maybe placed about the grave'during the funeral ceremony, Without any danger of tipping even though placed upon slopes or the inclined sides of mounds;

It is therefore'the primary object and purpose of. this invention to provide a floral basket peculiarly adapted to meet the rigid requirements of funeral use as outlined above. 7

A further and more specific object of; the invention is' to provide a floral basket having a novel, improved and unobtrusive arrangement of anchoring means whereby the basket may function in a normal manner for holding anddisplaying flowers upon flat and horizontal surfaces, as upon tables and the like, and yet may also, by means of retrac'tible anchors,'be securely positioned upon inclined surfaces as at the grave. f i V f 1 f A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a floral basket for funeral use having retractible anchoring pins which shall be associated therewith in a novel manner'whereby the pins in retractedposition will in no way interfere with the normal use of a basket upon.

aflat horizontal surface; and whereby the pins will ;be'

yieldably retained in a retracted and unobtrusive 'm'anner= ready for use; and whereby the pins may be advanced below the base of the basket for anchoring the same in an unobtrusive manner. I i .s it i Yet another specific objectof this invention is to'provide a floral basket construction assetforth'in thepreceding objects wherein the anchoring p'ins shallbe pro'- vided with headed points which will enhance and facilie tate the anchoring engagement of the pins; and yet, which will prevent embarrassing and unintentional Withdrawal of the pins from the basket when the pins are moved ,into their retracted position. i

'Stillanother important object of theinvehtion" provide a floral basket in conformity with the above mentioned objectsrwherein provision is made for receiying the pointed ends of the anchoring pins within the base structure of the basket' A'final important object of the inventionitoibespe cifically enumerated herein is to provide in a floral basket in conformity with the previously mentioned objects, the provision of unobtrusive means whereby the anchoring pins may be releasably secured against the sides or handle of the basket in a readily releaseable manner, in the retracted position of the anchoring pins.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of floral basket disclosing the manner in which the anchoring means in accordancewith this invention is applied thereto, the anchoring pins being shown in retracted position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of Figure l, but indicating the manner in which the anchoring pins are positioned for securing the basket against tipping;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view taken in vertical section through the base of the basket of Figures 1 and 2 and showing the manner in which the anchoring pins are retracted into the base in the retracted position of the p Figure 4 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 and showing one form of resilient retaining means for holding the anchoring pins in retracted position;

Figure 5 is a detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by. the section line 5-5 of Figure l, and upon an enlarged scale, and showing a retaining and guide construction for the lower end of the anchoring pins;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the pointed extremity of one of the anchoring pins; 7

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the manner in which the anchoring means of this invention is applied to a second form of floral basket commonly employed for funeral purposes;

Figure 8 is a detail view taken upon an'enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line a the invention are applied cosed in Figulref1; I v c The basket of Figure 1- includes a frusto-conical body:

88 of Figure 7 and showing the manner in which the anchoring pins are releasably retained in retracted posi:

tion in an unobtrusive'manner and against the handleof the basket; 7 t p Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view taken in vertical section'through a portion of the base of the basket and show ing in full lines the position of the anchoring pin in retracted position and in dotted lines the position assumed by the pin when the same in'in operative position;

Figure 10 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 10-10 of Figure 8 and showing the manner in which. the

retaining means for yielding ly holding the anchoring pin in retracted position is unobtrusively associated with the handle of the basket; and,

Figure ll is a detail view taken upon an enlargedscale substantially upon 'the'plane indicatedby the section line: 1111 of Figure 8 and showing the manner in which a guiding means for the anchoring pin is unobtrusively mounted upon and secured to the handle of the basket.

Floral baskets for funeral purposes are generally of two types, these two types being shown in Figures-l and 7.' Reference is made first to Figures 1 6 for an understanding of the. manner in which the principles of to the form of floralbasket dis- 10 of any desired construction having a carrying handle 12 attached to the upper end thereof, and being mounted i was 1 9 1 n nee i kz t psd u .4..

In one conventional form, this base has atop wall 16 which constitutes a bottom for the basket body 10, being attachedtheretoasby soldering, as indicated at 18, the

base having a downwardly andoutwardly' flaring rim or, 7

side '20 together with a supporting flange'22 eonfstitutir g an annulus at the bottomof' the rim.' Baskets of this nature are entirely satisfactory for containing flowers at afuneral and for being supported upon a flat'and substantially horizontalsurface, as upon aca'sket, a casket tress el, the floor or table or the like of a home or'funeral parlor. However, when it is desired to carry the floral basketto a grave and disposethe same about the grave, difliculty' is frequently encountered since any inclination or slopeiof the ground at the grave or surface upon which the basket'is to rest, or windor the likewill readily cause *the basket to upset producing an extremely annoying and undesirable effect'upon the soleninity of the occasion.

In order to overcome this difficultyand yet in no way marthe graceful and attractive'appearance of the floral a e n r de u n he d gnit hnd sq e i h occasion, there is provided an improved anchoring means. In this embodiment, the anchoring means comprises two I or more anchoring pins 24 of anydesired material and which at their lower ends are provided with points 16 together with triangular-shaped wings, lugs; ribs or projections 28. The shape of the point and the wings faciling pins 6 70 areidisposedin closely adjacent relation to the handle arms 56. As shown; they. are disposed upon s the outside of these arms but closely adjacent thereto, th g fiQififl $17 9 @S b 'fi t t l the arms lifl itates penetrationof the end ofvthe rods into the ground 7 upon which the base 14 is supported and, as will be apparent from Figure 2, efiectively prevents the possibility of accidentaloverturning of the basket. The rods are slide ably received in suitable apertures'30 in the top wall 16' of the base, these apertures being as closely adjacent to no possibility of their pointsmarring a table top. or other disposed.

In order 'to Po ti n of the cl p- Ero maintain means closelyfagainst the side .ot the body inan unobtrusive manner, there are pro- 'vid'ed-oneor more retainers, and guides. 32, see also Fig-t ure 5, w hich are positioned closely tadjacent the base 14, }7 and in which the rods are slidably received. These gtiides assist in preventingjr attle of theZrods against the 'side'of fthe basket; serve to guideiand retain the rods closely adjacenttheside-of the b'ask et in an unobtrusive position; and facilitate vertical sliding, movement ofth'erods to their exten o er t v i' r te r sted in pee a 'ative position, as shown injl igureslland 3, r esp eet ivel y. I V in -order, toretainthe rods in -a retracted position; as shown particularly in Eigtireg igthere is provided a retaini fing of anvisu b mater l "pre er bly" et. a r resilient'nature. This fingen'which nayconsi'stidf a thin shett i Reh a s r fi rmfe b s ente a Qae n I 'byfarivet or the like 36 and'atits other extremity may" e u va' v cu r n li 3 iaei it temqvemem' of th'e 'ro d into and out of thearcuate ly shaped central i f: v 7 en all yt :At;its .upper end,77each of thear ehoring pins may be 7 P vid wit a n :ci tturpe :PQ 'tiQ 2 on g a i n er g in-m mbe whereb the-rod ma bemnipul d thej froregqing itj willbereadily apparent that in V 'position'of the anchoring. pins, ithey 'rnay1b'e i i 7' 7, be geen thefresiliehtclip34 andlthe wall of the bQSIYIlLQWhere:they'awill be resiliently andsecurely held I.

gainst rattlingloragainst aecidental dispiacer ent and;in} a '7 aver-y unobtrusive'manner. Injtheraised position,thei

ember-s28 willen gageithe undersurfaeeofthetgp wall 6952 bass-a 1 r *the was an rods trom the basket. 'When it is desiredto extend the rods into operative position, the portion 42 may be grasped, the rods may 'be shifted slightly sidewrse to 'disengage the same from the resilient clip 34 through the open lip 38 of the same, and'the rods then pushed downwardly into their extended position, thereby securely anchoring the basket upon-inclinedsurfaces;

-Btettt ei we made to Figures 7 shown in Figure 7. In this form, the floral basket in cludes a pd li lq an t o qn i na ide an' .h in ially a fiat plate-like base iz which may be either solid or of an inverted dish-shape, the solid form being illustrated in Figures 7-9. The basket further includesa handle having a' bail 54 witha pairof inclined arms 56 V by which the handle is attached to the base in asiightly 1 V 7 spaced relation to the lower end'of the frusto-conical body 50, as will be apparent from Figures fl and 9. V In this-form, as shown'in Figure 9, 'the body 5 0 has its own bottomwallfifi, secured to the base any desired 7r tiah-1 ner, ot shown. In this typeof basket, a pairof anchor:

basket that they may be disp osed upon the interior of J theqarrns, 7 In any event, they are retained as 'close'to the arms as possible in order to render them 30 t re as PQ S b1- The a i p a 'p ideqi with pointed extremities 62 together with a slightly enlargedsheuider 6 4 thereabove. Thebase, if of solid construction, is provided withga countersunk bore 66 for receivingthe head of the rodand permits the same to be r tteci d nt t lqboretq t us p v nt the pos b y-10f h P nt me i n ata c t p: o oth fis ppo t ng s a e 7 whens -the' basket is used in thenormal manner for plac-7 7 supporting. surface upon which the floral basketrnay be;

sheetp etal gr any other suitable materialuand which; i tetenably {of es l en zn t e sh nk portion'jflwhichia't one end is proyidedwithj a? 21;v 12 he as su ed t 410:. resiliently V :r'e'taining'the anchoring pin a At therother'end, the}? shapkl iSJ P j .jolded pmitse a id s 'gh the'braidedniaterialofthehandle attached, lisefiectiv to resilientlynd' retain the, .anchoring jpins d0 7 ding embodiment-, in ay have. a?

lowerportions v ia q e 1 9 fla su fa e f-Ho v r, as 'i 'prex fitit sfl g b i fl an h ien arg d po o h n 7 7 the rodspr ents accidental vertical upward!withdrawal{;.g'

O H 76 tQ S om ch se-r I .In order'to retain t e 'rods i retraeted positioh 7 there isprgvided-a res ent clip generally indicatedqby f r rod, this clip beingshovQnpaI-J 1 thenumeral 68 for 7 r This clip may befotwire,

shgwn in Figure 1;; JIheSeQguidememb S, esignated maven material of the. handle ifaitd a 6 ha mean e let sewm h slidably'receivesf the pin.60.'

PIT

V 'taf'cilitiftingfits pnetrahono f 152118011 to securej a igood 7 hs ae the manner in which the principles of this invention are ap-. v plied to the other conventional term of flora-l basket a r i d 'm m si the: ofthe rods, of a;construction.part ienlar ly' num a 71,80," p e e a c mpr s 7a av'ng a looped extremity .extendi g iii l a a s t fla i fi iqf a on are Identical. with] those previo isly de-i 5 anchoring engagement, and also prevent accidental withdrawal of the pin from the basket, and is guided in its vertical travel.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A floral basket comprising a body adapted to hold flowers, an enlarged base on a lower portion of said body having a flat lower surface for supporting said body and a handle secured to said body; retractible anchor means carried in converging angular relation on opposite side portions of said body and in close disposition thereto, the base including a downwardly opening lower recess portion in communication with aperture portions extending through said base, said retractible anchor means including elongated anchor pins reciprocably received within said aperture portions, said pins including a lower enlarged pointed end receivably retained within the lower recess portion of said base, said pionted end being extensible downwardly from said base for penetration into the ground and being retractable upwardly, a guide element carried on said basket for each anchor pin, said guide element including a portion extending around the circumference of said anchor pins and reciprocably receiving said anchor pins for guiding the reciprocable movement of said anchor pins relative to said basket, and a resilient securing element carried on said basket in vertically spaced relation to each said guide element for receiving an upper portion of said anchor pin for retaining the same in retracted position with the enlarged lower pointed end thereof located wholly within said recess, said resilient securing element including an arcuate portion terminating in an outwardly curving lip for facilitating the removable retention of said anchor pin.

2. A floral basket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide element and resilient securing element are carried closely adjacent to said handle and to said base respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,327 Waters June 27, 1922 1,576,139 Schneider Mar. 9, 1926 1,967,320 Newman July 24, 1934 2,113,688 Grant Apr. 12, 1938 2,448,456 Niskanen et al. Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 164,910 Great Britain June 23, 1921 

